The meeting opened with a moment of silence in honor of Memorial Day, followed by the mayor’s speech on the significance of remembering fallen service members. The mayor called for the revitalization of the Vernon historical preservation commission and encouraged applications for the Arts advisory committee. Additionally, the mayor brought up a 5% interest rate bond loan for a firehouse and the community’s support for the fire department.

One of the primary topics of debate was the bond ordinance proposing $15,750 for the improvement of the Highland Lakes Fire Department building and the issuance of $100,000 in bonds for financing. This discussion was part of a broader conversation about funding for the fire department, library tax, and the Municipal budget amendment for 2024. The council faced questions about the ownership of buildings and fire departments, the allocation of funds for these services, and the necessity of an emergency appropriation of $700,000 for the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA).

The council took votes on an emergency meeting to adjust the budget, driven by the non-approval of the initial budget and a lack of funds in the temporary budget. The final budget vote and amendments were also topics of discussion, alongside resolutions on disabled veterans’ refunds, state tax court judgment overpayments, and the procurement of automatic external defibrillators. The continuation of the art advisory committee, revenue and appropriation amendments, property tax bills, telephonic communication system service, and grant writer services were further deliberated.

A debate ensued over the terms of a contract with a grant writing service, Millennia. The council scrutinized the contract’s language, which allowed Millennia to reject any project support request from the township. The town’s attorney clarified that the contract was for five years but could be canceled by the town. The council compared grants secured by Millennia for other towns to those secured for Vernon.

Security and artificial intelligence were also topics of concern. A community member expressed gratitude for the passing of a virtual ordinance and discussed the implications of AI on security and cameras. Public commentary was a significant theme throughout the meeting, with community members emphasizing the importance of public input and transparency in council decisions. One speaker highlighted the difference between casual conversations about spending and formal public commentary, advocating for the latter as a more legitimate form of public engagement.

Another issue was the transparency of council decisions. A member of the public criticized the opacity of some politicians’ relationship with the truth and urged the council to enhance their communication to gain public trust. During public comments, other topics included grant writing services for the ambulance squad, the inclusion of local volunteer agencies, the challenges faced by the fire department in obtaining loans, the MUA’s fee structure, and efforts to attract new members to merged ambulance squads.

Council members themselves raised various questions during the meeting, inquiring about the ownership of the fire department and sewer, the status of a lawsuit and fines, the MUA’s fee structure, and the need for improved air conditioning in the meeting room. They also pointed out discrepancies in a water infrastructure funding resolution, which incorrectly used “burrow” instead of “township.”